Letters to The Province Feb. 6, 2018: Anti-oil activists do not speak for majority of British Columbians

A protester is carried out of the building by police officers during a public town hall with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Nanaimo last week.JONATHAN HAYWARD / THE CANADIAN PRESS

I disagree with many policies of the federal Liberals, but the Trudeau government’s approval of Kinder Morgan’s Trans-Mountain pipeline expansion is one I whole-heartedly support.

I watched the television coverage of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s townhall meeting in Nanaimo with interest and anguish, especially when anti-pipeline and anti-tanker protesters ranted vociferously that they were there on behalf of all British Columbians.

I fully support anyone’s right to protest, but will never agree that those who make the most noise speak on everyone’s behalf. That is simply nonsense, and I would like to believe that there is a significant silent majority of British Columbians who agree with what Trudeau has said about balancing economic and environmental concerns regarding the pipeline expansion and increased tanker traffic.

Bernie Smith, Parksville

Fix issue, build pipeline

If Alberta and the federal government are so sure marine spills of dilbit are no problem, they need to step up and offer to pay for all clean up and remediation of any pipeline spill along B.C.’s coast.

If the B.C. government wish us to believe that they are truly convinced spills are a huge problem and not just a delaying tactic to increase costs until Kinder Morgan cancels the project, they must accept this solution and let the pipeline be completed.

Carol Ebenstiner, Abbotsford

‘Nothing to be proud of’

What utter nonsense new B.C. Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson uttered regarding his party not wanting to spend our “children’s money” or to leave them with debts because of this generation’s spending.

There has not been, for all the years the Liberals were in power, enough spent to provide our children, while they are still children, with things they need. Balanced budgets at the expense of society is nothing to be proud of.

Sandy Hayes, Penticton

Fairer funding needed

Voters in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley made it pretty clear during the last election. They do not want to be forced to pay tolls or mobility fees to drive to work, take their kids to sports or do their shopping.

Politicians need to find other, fairer ways to fund transit other than on the backs of the people who were forced to the suburbs by high housing costs.

That platform alone could win a party several seats in the Valley and areas south of the Fraser, where getting around by car is the only realistic option. They spoke with their votes once and I am sure they will do it again.

Perry Coleman, Delta

Mayor’s bike lanes to blame

Absolutely, there are more cars driving downtown, but the main congestion problem is not the cars. It is Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and his Vision party, who have plugged every main road with bike lanes.

Cars bring money downtown and now they are going to put bike lanes on the Cambie Bridge and remove the viaducts? Their answer is a road tax? Give us a break!

Anybody who runs for mayor just has to say that they will scale back the bike lanes big time to win in a landslide.

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